NBA Finals Rematch on ABC Matches Highest-Rated Christmas Game in 12 Years in the Early Window

Cavaliers' Thrilling Victory over the Warriors Generates a 5.9 Overnight Rating, Peaked with a 6.8 at 5 p.m.

Most-Streamed NBA Christmas Game Ever with 14.8 Million Total Minutes

The Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch on ABC, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors 109-108 after a thrilling fourth quarter comeback, delivered a strong 5.9 overnight rating, matching the highest-rated Christmas NBA game in 12 years on ABC in the early window (2:30 p.m. ET). The New York Knicks-Los Angeles Lakers matchup in 2012 also generated a 5.9 overnight rating.

According to Nielsen, the broadcast peaked with a 6.8 at 5 p.m. The game drew its four best quarter hours between 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Additionally, the broadcast was up 44 percent compared to the same window last year when the Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game drew a 4.1.

Streaming record

The Cavaliers-Warriors showdown was the most-streamed NBA Christmas game ever. It generated 14.8 million total minutes, 359,000 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 87,000.

Top local TV markets
Market Rating
Cleveland 18.4
San Francisco 15.1
Memphis 9.6
Las Vegas 9.4
Columbus 9.0

Celtics-Knicks Up on ESPN

In addition, the Boston Celtics' victory over the New York Knicks in the 12 p.m. (noon) window on ESPN delivered a 2.4 overnight rating, up four percent from last year. It's the highest-rated ESPN noon window on Christmas since 2012.

NBA Finals Rematch on ABC Delivers Most-Watched Christmas Game in 12 Years in the Early Window: 10.1 Million Total Average Viewers

Audience Peaks with 11.8 Million in Late Fourth Quarter

ESPN's Most-Streamed NBA Christmas Day Ever, 44.3 Million Total Minutes Across Five Games

The Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch on ABC, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors in a 109-108 thriller, delivered a total live audience of 10,163,000 average viewers (ABC + streaming), making it ABC's most-watched Christmas NBA broadcast in 12 years in the early window (2:30 p.m. ET). The broadcast peaked with 11,800,000 average viewers (p2+) from 5-5:15 p.m., according to Nielsen.

The total live audience for the NBA Finals rematch was up 73 percent from 5,880,000 viewers for last year's Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup. Sunday's broadcast delivered 10,077,000 average viewers (p2+) on ABC and it drew an average minute streaming audience of 87,000 viewers, 359,000 unique viewers and 14.8 million total minutes streamed. The Cavaliers-Warriors broadcast is the fifth-most watched regular-season NBA game in ABC history.

ESPN's Most-streamed NBA Christmas Ever

Sunday's five-game slate, driven by the Cavaliers vs. Warriors showdown, propelled ESPN to its most-streamed NBA Christmas Day ever. The NBA games generated 44.3 million total streaming minutes, 197,000 average unique viewers and an average minute audience of 54,000, which is up 33 percent from 33.5 million, nine percent from 180,000, and 29 percent from 42,000, respectively, from last year.

Most-watched ESPN 12 p.m. Christmas game since 2012

The Boston Celtics' victory over the New York Knicks was the most-watched Christmas NBA game on ESPN in the 12 p.m. telecast window since 2012. The telecast drew 3,748,000 total live viewers (ESPN + streaming), which is up 17 percent from 3,208,000 viewers for last year's Miami Heat vs. New Orleans Pelicans matchup in the same window. The telecast averaged 3,687,000 viewers (p2+), peaking with 4,604,000 viewers from 2-2:30 p.m., on ESPN and an additional average minute streaming audience of 61,000.